SPREADING A LITTLE LIGHT

Real Letters and Cards are a Treat!

And not that expensive

9th October was World Post Day. It reminded me of being at a friend’s house when her mail came through the door. She had to rush to pick it up before her dog did — because her dog considers mail through the door to be a whole bunch of intruders in one go, and consequently, it has to be ripped to shreds to teach it a lesson.

Anyway, it was the look on her face that struck me when she realised there was a handwritten letter amongst the bills. It was a look of such pleasure that it made me smile and it wasn’t even for me.

It reminded me of how much can be gained from not such a lot of effort.

I would have left straightaway but she assured me that waiting to read it, knowing it was there waiting to be read, was almost as good as reading it. So I scoffed down my coffee and Italian hazelnut biscuits as fast as I could and then left, determining to write more cards and letters myself.

Cards and letters aren’t just for birthdays, Christmas and other holidays. They are also to send a note to someone to let them know you’re thinking of them; to thank them for something, to congratulate them — there is no event or emotion in life that can’t be improved by receiving a letter or card to accompany it.

It really doesn’t take that much time, or money, to give someone a lot of pleasure receiving something through the post from you.

It’s that time of year, too, when there are plenty of excuses to get in touch — if you need an excuse, that is — Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year.

But anyone would be happy to hear from you without an excuse, too, or you could go for the ‘Happy November’ thing or the ‘Just dropping you a note’ thing, or postcards from your road trip thing.

A lot is made of such cards and letters being handwritten. I’m not so stuck on that. For a start, when I write someone a letter I like to think they’ll be able to read it, so I always type mine.

However, handwriting is part of the whole process for some people — the feel of the pen over the paper, especially if using an ink-pen, the meditational aspects of the flowing nature of the script etc.

But most of the reasons given for handwriting being so great are the same as if your letters are typed — the personal effort given, the time and consideration that has gone into creating your prose; putting your thoughts into words — which is also what you’re doing when you type.

Some people would prefer to receive a handwritten thought, than a typed one, and it is certainly easier to handwrite a card than type it — although I usually enclose my typed letters in cards, anyway, with a handwritten sentiment in the card.

Handwriting is supposed to encourage your creativity with expressions other than just the text — doodles and decorations etc — again, just as easily added to a typed letter.

Apparently, handwriting promotes self-reflection, mindfulness, and relieves stress. Maybe those things are more likely than when typing. Hmmm — maybe not, though — my hands cramp up now when I handwrite too much.

Anyway, I don’t think it matters if you prefer to handwrite or type. The important thing is that you’re hoping your recipient will be pleased to receive your missive.

Although I know some people are wedded to the whole ‘by hand’ thing and being in the moment etc, I, personally, think it’s the thought that counts, followed by something landing on someone’s mat that lets them know you had thought of them enough to write/type something, find an envelope and a stamp and their address and then get everything in one place, and then post it as well!

You might even make your own card, or decorate the envelope. There are many permutations to this creativity.

You don’t have to be a Luddite to like a letter or a card —they can be a treat for people who usually email and/or text as well.

It is especially at this time of year that I think of sending things through the postal system. It’s at this time that some people start to anticipate the festive season, and some people start to dread it.

Both the anticipators and the trepidatious can be cheered by the arrival of a card through their door, or in their mailbox.

Things to bear to mind:

• It’s not a tit-for-tat situation — writing letters brings its own satisfaction; imagining the pleasure you’re sending through the post is also a good feeling — but it’s about writing to someone without expecting a reply — and then it’ll be a lovely surprise if you get one. Not everyone is able to reply.
• You might be writing to people you know — those who might not hear much from other people, maybe. Or simply people who you know would be cheered. Of course, care is then needed to be sure of not overstepping the mark. Keep your letters/cards entertaining for them, rather than a soapbox for you. Unless you know for certain your recipient enjoys nothing better than a rant!
• You might be writing to people you don’t know. “Postcards of Kindness is an initiative that asks people to write and send postcards to residents of care homes. And while it’s a small gesture, the resulting deliveries bring a great deal of joy and spark lively conversations among the older people who receive them.” This one is in the UK, but I know that last year when I was looking, I found many similar organisations in the US, too.
• The ‘Write on’ campaign looks worth investigating.
• When I was looking last year I found other causes that asked for people to write cards or postcards etc. My favourite, I think, is to write to a residential nursing home. But it’s whatever suits you.
• Some people write letters to complete strangers and leave them to be found on the underground, park benches, sea walls etc. Sometimes they get a reply from which friendships can arise; sometimes they get nothing; always they have the initial pleasure and anticipation of writing the letter.
• PS Writing to other people is very good writing practice, too.

Apart from nursing homes, I tend to write letters and cards to people I know, although I haven’t met all of them because I ‘know’ them only online for one reason or another. I have written a few letters to strangers because sometimes online people will send out a message, for example: “My Auntie Maggie has broken her hip and had to move to a care home after hospital because she can’t cope on her own anymore. She is a bit down in the mouth about it and I know she would love to hear from anyone happy to write to her.”

So I’ve written to a few Auntie Maggies. This way of doing things suits me because my life can be a bit fraught at times and I don’t want to start a regular thing and find that maybe I can’t be as regular as is needed.

In a world that seems to be getting darker, writing to someone is an inexpensive way to spread a lot of light.

Pen-pals are something a bit different from the above because the whole point is that you do get back a letter/card when you send one out, but it is also something that can be a brilliant thing to do. If you want to get going with a pen-pal, here’s a good place to start:

Whilst looking at the pen-pal idea I came across this site — what a good idea this is!

Other Weeds and Wildflowers stories:

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